Disclaimer: Well, after a full day of beating the living S-H-I-T out of Sigma with various weaponry, our heroes return to spread the joyous joy of victory over the demise of evil!

Uzu: (sniffing coffee crisp bar repeatedly)

Archaon: (points to footage that Axl took) Now you see, the best part was when the lasers started coming in. And as you can see, I expertly twirled my plasma pitchfork just in time to rebound the lasers, which were deflected by Uzu-chan's frying pan.

Race girl: (nods) Or the part when someone threw a carrot at Sigma and Axl-

Axl: SHUT UP!

Uzu: Ahh, the sweet smell of caffein!

Archaon + Race girl: (stare at her)

Uzu: Um... That was Zidet and Drgnstryker, for sure. Nobody else throws carrots at Sigma, without a good reason. (face twists in disgust at the mention of carrots)

Axl: Why? They're so good!

Uzu: ARE NOT!

Uzu: Get me Shun!

Shun: (appears) Um... where am I?

Uzu: That doesn't matter. Prove that carrots are disgusting.

Shun: ... O.O Ok. (calls in a person)

A random "expert" paid by money: Ten out of eleven users agree that carrots are foul tasting. This prepaid add has nothing to do with the contortion of true facts. Thank you.

Shun: Was that ok?

Uzu: A boy and his money... yep, perfect.

Uzu: SEE!

Axl: --; Yeah... right.

Lumine: Why, little boy, do you look so much like me?

Shun: Because Capcom rips themselves off. That's why. (huffs)

Lumine: Ah, now everything's clearer...

Gate: On with the fic!

Everyone: OO When did you get here?

Gate: My little secret.

XXXXXX

The bomb was rather temperamental, Axl thought. If only it would be nice and shut off.

His hands expertly combed the interior of the shell, searching for any telltale signs of the wire that he was looking for. Several wires gave off the same heat signature, so his options had narrowed, but it still wasn't enough.

XXX

"X, Axl! Come in! Respond!"

X reeled to a halt when he heard the command. Catching his breath, he checked his communicator. The flashing light told him that the hardware was actually in function. "Hunter X reporting. Who do I have the pleasure of conversing with?" He asked, realizing that the voice he heard didn't have the familiar female ring to it.

"It's Gate. No time for chitchat; a bomb is about to go off, and you're close to it. I need you to locate it and disarm it." Gate stated rather coolly; too coolly for the situation.

X gritted his teeth. "Can you lead me to it?"

He heard a low grumble from the device. "Yeah yeah sure, give me a second sheesh.. Take three lefts and then go straight. It's the fourth door."

"Did you just sigh at me?" X inquired exasperated.

"What gives you that idea blue bomber?" The sarcastic retort followed.

XXXX

Gate didn't know why he was getting very annoyed with X. He wasn't doing it intentionally, but something inside him was appalled by the duty going Megaman X.

Maybe it stemmed from what Axl had told him.

He sat down, thumbing through the information that loaded on the screen. The blipping pictures and text zoomed in and out. Those who were debutant researches wouldn't have been able to cope with the sheer speed of the device he had built; which in turn reassured him that no one would tamper with his machine.

Such were the nuisances of life.

There was a short knock at the door. Turning in his seat Gate called out. "It's fine. Enter."

Meele's head poked into the cramped quarters. Gazing around at all the machinery and left over parts that adorned the carpet, the bureaus, and more noticeably, the bed.

"I still don't get how you can leave in here like this."

"That's fine. Nobody's asking you to understand." Gate replied, annoyed already that his tastes in 'decor' were being discussed and accused of treachery.

Meele winked at the other's twisted features. "I know, I know. But what I meant was, I can't believe you live here without a Girl's Gone Maverick poster! You call yourself a man!" (Ha ha! Stage Select: When Master's Attack reference!)

A hostile piece of junk was thrown, narrowly missing Meele's head, as the latter had ducked.

Without missing a beat Meele, countered by throwing himself onto the white bed sheets behind the researcher.

"Hun! Something non-metallic! Amazing!"

"Shut up and let me do my work."

"NEVER!" Meele reposted, eager to finally annoy some one who actually paid attention to him. (Shade does this to me all the time --;) Mayhaps Gate could lead him to happiness for one day; or a brief moment, which would fit the context a damn sight better.

With a well-adjusted kick, the acerbic-tempered scientist sent the younger flying to the ground.

"Well, what are you waiting for! Help me!"

"Right, right." Meele sputtered. "What do you need done?"

"More than the average job my good friend... A LOT more." Gate replied, with a sneaky grin that was beginning to curve onto his lips.

XXXX

"Axl!"

Deep blue irises met fiery green eyes.

It had not been long when one had coughed out of surprise. Which in turn led the opening of the intense sensation in the air.

"I've been looking EVERYWHERE for you!" X cried out. "Where the hell have you been!" Glaring at the child, his eyes darted to and throe from all the discernible points in his appearance; helmet, fiery red hair..

"I'm sorry X.'' Solemn jewels stared back at the blue Irregular Hunter. "I had to see something on my own."

It was only for a fraction of a second that X's face gave up it's defensive barrier, showing a forlone look. "I was so worried.."

Axl's ears perked up as the comment darted out of X's mouth and out onto the dense atmosphere of the hollow room.

Only now did he really see the room for what it was. No longer was it a mindless acquired detail. It felt as alive as he did that very moment.

The walls not only stood, but rather slumped into place, as if they had been told to keep a position by an instructor, but had no intention of taking it seriously. Decay and rust nibbled at the exposed grime and metal shavings of their platings, while vines and weeds had began to attack any crack that lay undiscovered.

It breathed at a stead rhymth, one indiscernible to man or machine, as it speed up and lingered without any notice.

It was if death had opened his eyes. Nothing was whole, and nothing was apart.

As if time itself had decided to give him a long last look around the very wonders of the world before he would depart. (nearly drown underwater and this happens. I'm never going back to those fucking damn water parks EVER AGAIN! TT)

"Now let's have a look-see at that bomb you have in your mitts."

Axl gave up the possession of the mechanical device long enough for X to study it. "Ok, simply..." Motioning the younger hunter to hold up the package, X calmly then motioned for him not to move, at any cost.

In a rapid movement, Megaman X shot a small bullet downwards at the machine. Axl yelped with all his gusto at this insane act.

The blipping diminished mear seconds after.

"How the? What the fu-WHAT DID YOU DO! YOU COULD HAVE KILLED US!"

X, again, out of character, patted Axl on his left shoulder. "Learned that trick back in the second Maverick uprising. Relax kid. It's disarmed."

Looking as if tears would begin to surge from his eyes at any given moment do to stress, Axl stared wide eyed at X. "How did you do that, and when can I learn!"

Tilting his head pensively at Axl's request, X stared back. Maybe they did have something in common after all..

Radioing in, X stated to the hunter (Ok, not really but bare with me X3) frequency. "Bomb disarmed. Happy?"

"Am I ever. Thanks Megaman!.." Gate replied with much enthusiasm.

Smiling to Axl, X replied back. "Glad to hear of it."

"..For taking care of Axl."

X's eyes blinked from the sudden comment, but as he tried to reach the frequency, it had been disconnected. Noticing the A-Ranked (Damn, he'd better be S-Ranked for disarming a bomb with such unorthodox methods!) hunter was squabbling over his communicator, Axl inquired into X's odd behavior.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing.." X commented. "Nothing at all."

XXX

Uzu: Awww! Kinda cute ending don't you say?

Eer, ending of CHAPTER! Though it could end here, but I won't do that. Reviews keep me warm during Canadian winters. XD

I keep thinking of shonen-ai... And a really weird pairing that could actually work in this fic. PLease shoot me down before this become like my VolkexSoren fic Oo.

I vonder if you can guess the pairing that's haunting meh? XD Hisses like vampire